Controlling arrangement for a gas burner



May 28, 1935.

F. W. STOCKMEYER ET AL CONTROLLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A GAS BURNER Filed June 5, 1932 Fig. 1

3 SheetsSheet l jaw QM y 1935- F. w. STOCKMEYER ET AL 2,002,513

'CONTROLLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A GAS BURNER Filed June 6, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 28, 1935. F. w. STOCKMEY ER EIAL CONTROLLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A GAS BURNER Filed June a. 1952 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented May 28, 1935 I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROLLING ARRANGELIENT FOR A GAS BURNER Friedrich Wilhelm Stockmeyer and Wilhelm lh'immelt, Stuttgart, Germany, assignors to Junkers & Co., Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Dessau, Germany Application June 6, 1932, Serlal No. 615,676

H In Germany June 18, 1931 8 Claims. (Cl- 158-1171) 7 The present invention relates to gas burners open because the closing of the switch valve and more particularly to safety switching ar interrupts the above-mentioned connection of rangements for the main gas valves of burners the controlling chamber with the main pipe, so in which the controlling or operating diaphragm that the main valve can open. The invention of the main valve is operated by alterations in thus permits the main valve to be held closed 5 pressure on one side thereof produced by the during the ignition of the pilot flame and until opening or closing of switching valves in a the pilot flame burns quietly and regularly. branch pipe branching offthemain gas pipe. It is particularly of advantage if the ignition The invention is especially concerned with gas is led through the controlling chamber before 10 switching arrangements in'which the outlet of it reaches the pilot burner, because the powerful 10 the control-pipe terminates in a pilotburner, gas current then has an opportunity of quickly which is governed by an automatic valvev (for scavenging out the air which has collected in the example, a thermostatic valve) actuated by the control chamber and the control pipe. Prefpilot flame. In order to enable the extinguished erably, the small-diameter control pipe leading pilot flame to be re-ignited, a pipe is usually from the control chamber to the pilot burner is 15 provided which connects the pilot burner diarranged within the wide igniting gas pip 50 rectly with the main pipe whilst by-passing the that it forms with this latter a double tube and closed pilot thermostatic'valve, and is controlled is protected. At the same time the igniting pipe by an automatically closing valve, for example standing only temporarily under pressure prea spring urged press-button which is operable vents the escape into the room of leaking gas 20 by hand. from the control pipe which stands constantly This known switching arrangement has several under pressure. drawbacks. If, for instance, the pilot flame is The invention is shown in the drawings, in fed for re-ignition by the aid of the by-pass which:--

5 pipe, the pilot valve, operated by the heat of the Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of pilot flame, opens which thus simultaneously gas burner and control arrangement therefor causes the main valve to open because the conembodying the invention with the main burner trolling gas pressure which hitherto held the valve and the pilot burner valve in closed main valve closed at once escapes through the position;

opened pilot valve. The main burner will thus Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing 30 receive gas directly after the ignition of the pilot the main burner valve in closed position and the flame, which gas now ignites at the pilot flame pilot burner valve in open position and the pilot and endangers the person engaged in the ignitflame on; ing operation. If the supply of gas to the pilot Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1- but showing flame through the bypass is cut of! thepilot both the main burner valve and the pilot burner 35 flame may at once go out because air very valve in open position and both burners lighted; quickly collects in the closed controlling pipe Figure 4 is a partial vertical sectional view of and produces the extinction of the pilot flame ,a suitable form of construction of main burner until it is fully displaced from the controlling valve and control arrangement therefor corre- 40 and by-pass pipe. If now the lighting of the spending in general principle and mode of op- 40 pilot flame is repeated, the burner gas which eration to the arrangement diagrammatically ilemerged unburnt at the first ignition of the pilot lustrated in Figures 1 to 3. flame is ignited and may cause an explosion. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a third em- These drawbacks are removed according to the bodiment of the invention, showing the main invention in that the switch arrangement which burner valve and the pilot-burner valve in 45 controls the by-pass pipe when in the open posiclosed position;

. tion simultaneously automatically closes the 'Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing valve member of the main valve for example by the main burner valve closed and the pilotconnecting the control chamber of said main burner valve open and the pilot flame on;

valve with the main pipe by a pipe of such width Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing 50 that a reduction in pressure in the control chamthe main burner valve and' the pilot burner valve ber and thus an opening of the main valve is both in open position and both burners lighted;

prevented on the opening of the by-pass valve. Fig. 8 is a partial verticalsectional view of a If the switching valve is again closed; however, fourth embodiment of the invention showing a the valve member of the main valve is free to suitable form of construction of main burner 55 valve and control arrangement therefor corresponding in general principle and mode of operation to the arrangement diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 5-7; and

Fig. 9 is a partial longitudinal sectional view on a larger scale than the scale of the preceding figures of a pilot burner and thermostatic valve of the type employed in all the arrangements or the preceding views.

Throughout the drawings the main valve is denoted by A, the'main burner by B, the pilot burner by C, and the igniting switch by D. In all the forms, also, the main valve A is inserted between the main pipe Ill and the burner pipe Its valve plate I2 is attached to a diaphragm l3,- above which a control chamber M is arranged.

Referring now more particularly to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the

control chamber ll communicates by a pipe "5 provided with a throttle I! with the main pipe "I, and by a controlling pipe l1, l3 with-the pilot burner C. The pilot burner C has a thermostat valve l3 controlled by the'heat of the pilot flame, which valve closes the outlet of thecontrolling pipe I. as soon as the pilot flame goes out (Fig. 1). By the closing the controlling pipe, the controlling gas flowing through the throttle I is dammed up in the controlling chamber M o! the main valve. so that it presses the diaphragm l3 downwards and closes the main valve. For the re-ignition of the pilot flame, a pipe. 20, 2| is provided which branches from the main pipe l0 and whilst by-passing the igniting valve l3, opens into the casing of the pilot burner C.

In the ignition-pipe 23,'2|, is provided an ignition valve D which has a passage 22 and can be opened and closed by hand. In Fig. 1, the valve, D is shown as closed and therefore as interrupting the ignition pipe 20, 2| In the opened position of the valve D, the passage 22 connects the gas main II with the pilot burner C, as shown in Fig. 2.

According to the present invention, the igniting valve D also constitutes a switch valveand is provided with a cross bore 23, which in the open position of the switch connects the passage 22 with a pipe 2lfwhich isconnected to the controlling pipe l1. It with this switch arrangement the. igniting switch D is opened (Fig. 2), the igniting gas flows not only through the igniting pipe 2| to the pilot burner C, but also through the pipes 24, I1 into the control chamber l4 of the main valve-A and holds the main valve closed, notwithstanding that the thermostatic valve l9 has been opened bythe heat of the pilotflame. To open the main valve A for flow of the main gas to the burnerB, the igniting switch D is again closed (Fig. 3). This closing of the valve D interrupts the flow of gas from the pipe 20 through the pipe 24 to the control chamber and through by-pass pipe 2| to the pilot burner, and consequently the control chamber l4 receives only the controlling gas flowing through the narrow throttle l5, and this controlling gas then flows from the control chamber l4 through the controlling pipes l1, Hi to the pilot burner. The result is that the main valve A opens and lets the main gas flow and until that flame burns quietly and regularly.

The construction shown' in Fig. 4 utilizes the switch arrangement just described, whilst employing a press-knob 25 as the igniting switch The branch pipe l6 here starts from the high pressure chamber 26 of the main valve and opens by the throttle l5 into the control chamber ll above the diaphragm l3. From here the control pipe l1, l8 leads to the pilot burner C. This latter consists of a casing 21 which is closed by a thermostat disc 28 having a burner opening 29. The pilot valve I9 is attached to the thermostat disc 28 and this valve closes the end of the control pipe |8 when the pilot flame is not burning. When however the pilot flame is lit, the valve is lifted from its seat by the thermostat disc 28 arching. The igniting pipe 20 branches from the branch pipe I6 and opens into the passage 22 of the press knob 25. The cross passage 23 branches from the passage 22. When the press-knob is at rest, the two passages 22, 23 are closed. When the press-knob is depressed, the passage 22 comes opposite the igniting pipe 2|, and the passage 23 opposite the pipe 24 which opens into the control pipe |I, l3. The mode of working of this arrangement is the same as was described with reference to Figs. 1-3. The small-diameter control pipe II which leads from the main valve casing to the pilot burner C is laid in the interior of a wide pipe which serves as the igniting pipe 2|. The two pipes l8, 2| together thus form a double pipe in the inner part l8 of which pressure constantly prevails, whilst the outer part 2| is only temporarily traversed by gas. The small-diameter but more strongly stressed control pipe is thus protected by the wide but more weakly stressed igniting pipe 2|.

The switching arrangement shown in Figs. 5-7 differs from the switching arrangement shown in Figs. l-3'in not having a direct connection between the two parts 20, 2| of the igniting pipe. The part 20 of the igniting pipe, on the contrary, is connected in the open position of the switch (Fig. 6) by a passage 30 with a pipe 3| which leads to the control chamber M of the main valve A. The branch pipe ll, I8 passes out from the control chamber and from this pipe branches a pipe32, which is connected through the switch D by means of a passage 33 with the part 2| of the igniting pipe. When the igniting switch D is opened (Fig. 6), the igniting gas must thus flow through the pipe 3| to the control chamber l4 and through this by the part II of the control pipe and pipes 32, 2| to the pilot burner C, where it is ignited. If now. the igniting or pilot valve I9 is opened, the igniting gas also flows through the part I8 of the control pipe, so that thus the control chamber M and the whole control pipe l7, l8 are flushed by the powerful current of igniting gas and freed from the air which has accumulated. The mode of working is, for the rest, the same as in the switch arrangement shown in Figs. 1-3.

Figure 8 shows in vertical section a suitable construction of switching arrangement similar in general principle and mode of operation to that shown in Figs. 5-7. The controlling gas here flows through the throttle 5 inserted in the diaphragm l3 directly into the control chamber I4 and from there through the passage l8 to the pilot burner C, the construction of which is the same as in Fig. 4. The igniting gas is taken by the pipe 20 from the high pressure chamber 26 of the main valve A and led through the passage 30 of the press-knob 25 and the passage 3| to the control chamber l4. From the thermostatic valve responsive to the heat of the control chamber l4 the igniting gas flows through the pipe 32 again to the press-knob and through its passage 33 and through the part 2! of the igniting pipe to the pilot burner.

AlthoJgh the diameters of fithe various conduits or pipes of the control arrangements or systems shown in the illustrated embodiments of the invention may vary with the diameter of the main gas line III, II, they are, of course, in all instances substantially smaller than the diameter of the main gas line. A suitable minimum diameter for the pipes or conduits I 6, l1, I8, 20 and 2| shown in all the illustrated em- 'bodiments of the invention, for the passages 22, 23 in the valve D of Figs. 1-4, for the passages 30, .33 in the valve D shown in Figs. 5-8, and for the pipes or conduits 3|, 32 also shown in Figs. 5-8 is 5 mm. A suitable minimum diameter for the throttle IS in the pipe or conduit ii of Figs. l-'! and in the diaphragm l3 of Fig. 8 is 0.7 mm. while a suitable minimum diameter'for the burner opening 29 in the thermostatic disc 28 of the pilot burner, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 9, is 1.6 mm. The purpose served by having the pilot pipe l1, l8 and the pilot burner opening 29 of larger diameter than the throttle II is apparent from a consideration of Fig. 3. As there shown, when the pilot burner has been lighted and the pilot burner valve l9 has been moved by the outward arching of the thermostatic disc to open position, and the switch valve D has been closed, the flow of gas to feed the pilot flame is from the main gas pipe l0 on the pressure side of the main burner valve through the pipe l6 and the throttle l5 therein tothe control chamber l4 above the diaphragm oi the main burner valve and from that chamber through the pipes l1, l8 to the pilot burner opening. As the control chamber I4 is between the throttle l5 and the pilot-burner opening and the latter is of larger diameter than the throttle and on its low pressure side, it follows that the feed of gas to the pilot burner opening reduces the gas pressure in the control chamber below the pressure on the opposite side of the diaphragm of the main burner valve and thereby efiects the opening of that valve as shown in Fig. 3. The arrangement and mode of operation are the same in principle, of course, in the other forms of the invention.

As shown in Fig. 9, the thermostatic valve comprises a single metallic disc 28 over the mouth of the casing 21 of the pilot burner, to which casing the ignition gas pipe 2| and the pilot pipe l8 lead. The valve member I9 is connected to the under side of the diaphragm-so that as the diaphragm expands and contracts and therebyarches outwardly and flattens inwardly, the valve member 19 is moved from and toward the exit opening of the pipe I! in a manner to open andclose that opening.

We declare, that what we claim is:

1. A controlling arrangement for a gas burner comprising the combination with a gas burner, of a valve chest, a main supply valve and diaphragm therefor dividing said valve chest into a main gas chamber and a control chamber and operable under difference of pressure in the chambers to control the supply of gas to theburner, a gas main connected to said main gas chamber, a, burner conduit between the burner and said main gas chamber controlled by the said valve, a pilot burner, a pilot conduit between the control chamber and-said pilot burner, a

pilot burner and operative to control said pilot conduit, a throttled connection between the said chambers, a by-pass conduit around said thermostatic valve and extending between the gas main and said pilot burner, and means including a valve in said by-pass conduit automatically connecting said control chamber directly to the main pressure gas supply upon opening said by-pass conduit.

2. A controlling arrangement for a gas burner comprising the combination with a gas burner, of a valve chest, a main supply valve and 9. diaparagm therefor dividing said valve chest into a main gas chamber and a control chamber and operable under difference in pressure in the chambers to control the supply of gas to the burner, a gas main connected to said main gas chamber, a burner conduit between the burner and main gas chamber controlled by the said valve, apilot burner, a pilot conduit between the control chamber and said pilot burner, a thermostatic valve responsive to the heat of the pilot burner and operative to control said pilot conduit, a throttled connection between the said chambers, a by-pass conduit around said thermostatic valve and extending between said gas main and said pilot burner, a valve controlling said by-pass conduit and operable to connect said pilot burner to and cut it ofl from said gas main independently 'of said thermostatic valve, and conduit means controlled by said-by-pass valve to connect said by-pass conduit to said control chamber.

3. A controlling arrangement for a gas burner comprising the combination with a gas main and a main gas burner, of a, valve chest, a main supply valve and diaphragm therefor dividing.

said valve chest into a main gas chamber and a control chamber and operable under difference of pressure in the chambers to control the supply of gas to the burner, a burner conduit between the burner and main gas chamber controlled by the said valve, a pilot burner, a pilot conduit between the control chamber and said pilot burner, a thermostatic valve responsive to the heat of said pilot burner and operative to control said pilot conduit, 9. throttled; connection between the said chambers, a pressure equalizing conduit between the gas main and said control chamber, a by-pass conduit around said thermostatic valve between said control chamber and said pilot burner and valve means operable to simultaneously open and to simultaneously close said pressure-equalizing conduit and said by-pass conduit.

4. A controlling arrangement for a gas burner comprising the combination with a gas burner, of a valve chest, a main supply valve and diaphragm therefor dividing said valve chest into a main gas chamber and a control chamber and operableu'nder difference of pressure in the chambers to control the supply of gas to the burner, a gas main connected to said main gas chamber, a burner conduit between the burner and main gas" chamber controlled by the said valve, a pilot burner, a pilot conduit between the control chambe nd said pilot burner, a thermostatic valv sponsive to the heat of said pilot burner and operative tocontrol said pilot conduit, a throttled connection between said chambers, a pressure equalizing conduit between the gas main and said control chamber, a bypass conduit around said thermostatic valve and extending between said pilot conduit and said pilot burner and valve means operable to simultaneously open and'to simultaneously close said pressure-equalizing conduit and said by-pass conduit.

5. A controlling arrangement for gas burners comprising the combination with a gas burner, of a main valve casing, a control chamber in said main valve casing, a main gas chamber in said casing having an opening therein for the entrance of main gas, a diaphragm separating said chambers, a valve seat in said casingwithin said main gas chamber connected with the burner, a valve secured to said diaphragm and seating on said seat, a throttled conduit between said chambers, a pilot bumer having a thermostatic disc with an opening therethrough forming the pilot jet and a valve member carried by said disc, a relatively large-diameter pipe secured to said casing and supporting said pilot burner and arranged to deliver gas around said valve member to said pilot jet to start the pilot light, a relatively small-diameter pipe arranged .within' said larger pipe with its exit opening adjacent said valve member in position to be controlled thereby, a pilot conduit in said main valve casing connecting said smaller pipe and said control chamber, conduit means connecting said main. gas chamber and said larger pipe to supply gas to said pilot jet, and valve means in said casing controlling said conduit means.

6. A controlling arrangement'for gas bumers' comprising the combination with a gas burner, of a main valve -casing, a control chamber in said main valve casing, a main gas chamber in said casing having an opening therein for the entrance of main gas, a diaphragm separating said chambers, a valve seat in said casing within said anain gas chamber connected with the burner, a valve secured to said diaphragm and seating on said seat, a throttled conduit between said chambers, a pilot burner having a thermostatic disc with an opening therethrough forming the pilot jet and a valve member carried by said disc, a relativelylarge-diameter pipe secured to said casing and supporting said pilotburner and arranged to deliver gas around said valve member to said pilot jet to start the pilot light, a relatively small-diameter pipe arranged within said larger pipe with its exit opening adjacent said valve member in position to. be controlled thereby, a pilot conduit in said main valve casing connecting said smaller pipe and said control chamber, a by-pass conduit in said main valve casing around said throttled conduit connecting said main gas chamber with said control chamber and with said larger pipe and a spring urged piston valve working in said'main valve casing normally closing said by-pass conduit and manually operable to connect said main and a main gas burner, of a main gas valve having a valve chest, a valve member and a diaphragm therefor dividing said valve chest into a main gas chamber and a pressure control chamber and operable under differences in fluid pressures in said chambers, said main gas chamber having an inlet connected-to said gas main for the supply of gas thereto, an outlet connectedto said main gas burner and a seat for said valve member intermediate said gas inlet .and outlet, a throttled connection between the high-pressure or main gas supply side of said main valve and said control chamber, a pilot burner, a pilot-conduit leading from said control chamber to said pilot burner to feed gas to said pilot burner when the pilot flame is on, said pilot burner and said pilot conduit each having a greater cross sectional area for the flow of gas therethrough from said control chamber than said throttled connection for the flow of gas therethrough into said control chamber, a thermostatic valve closing said pilot conduit when the pilot flame is extinguished and responsive to the heat of the pilot flame to open said pilot conduit, by-pass conduit means around said throttling connection between the supply side of said main valve and said control chamber and between said control chamber and said pilot burner around said thermostatic valve operative to provide an igniting or starting feed of gas to said pilot burner and to maintain a pressure in said control chamber closing said main supply valve as long as said ignition feed of gas is on, and valve means for controlling said by-pass conduit means.

8. A controlling arrangement for a gas burner comprising the combination with a gas burner and a gas line leading thereto, 0! a valve chest interposed in said gas line, a diaphragm dividing said chest into a main gas chamber on one side of the diaphragm and a control chamber, on the other with the first chamber connected to said gas line, a main gas valve operatively' connected-with said diaphragm and controlling the feed of gas through said gas line to said burner, a pilot burner having a jetand a gas passage through the body of the pilot burner leading to said jet, a thermostatic pilot valve for said passage having a thermostat element operating in response to the heat of the pilot flame to open said pilot valve andinresponse to extinguishment of the pilot flame to close said pilot valve, by-pass-conduit means connected with said gas line on the high-pressure side of said main valve and with said control chamber and extending around said thermostatic pilot valve to said pilot jet and a by-pass valve con trolling the flow of gas from said gas line through said-by-pass conduit means to said pilot jet and said control chamber, said by-pass conduit means being operative when its said valve- -is open to provide an igniting or starting feed said pilot jet is on, and conduit means connecting said gas line on the high-pressure side of said main valve with said control chamber and the latter with said gas passage in said pilot burner and operating-when said by-pass valve is closed and said thermostatic pilot valve is open to feed gas from said gas line through said control chamber to said pilot jet at rates of gas flow into and out of said control chamber so reducing the gas pressure in said control chamber below that in said main gas chamber as to cause said diaphragm to open said main gas valve and maintain it open as long as said lastmentioned feed of gas to the pilot jet is on.

FRIEDRICH WILHELM STOCKMEYER. WILHELM RC'JMMELT. i 

